OAS to provide advice on seized asset management
OEA implements seized asset management project in Brazil. From left: Paul Simons, Paulo Abrão, and Vitore Maximiniano
Property and assets seized from criminal actions in Brazil may be kept awaiting judicial disposal for years until they depreciate completely. In an attempt to address this problem, the Organization of American States (OAS) has begun to roll out a technical consultancy project in Brazil designed to manage and appropriately dispose of property of illegal origin.
The Seized and Forfeited Asset Management Project (BIDAL in the Spanish acronym), which is already in place in a number of countries, should last for two years and may provide recommendations for change in Brazilian law.
The aim is to improve procedures and enable performance gains for officials handling financial and asset investigations, thus increasing the efficiency of illegal asset management.
Paulo Abrão, National Justice Secretary, expects the initiative will enable authorities to better diagnose the seized asset management model to be implemented in the country. According to him, the project is a “top priority” because of the challenges involved in fighting money laundering and organized crime and protecting public property.
Ricardo Saadi, local BIDAL coordinator, itted that Brazil faces difficulties managing seized and forfeited assets. He instanced seized cars rotting in Federal Police custody, carelessly stored works of art, and estates that remain closed for years.
The representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Brazil, Rafael Franzini, said the assets that organized crime takes from society must somehow return to it. “BIDAL plays a key role in this process. It's a dynamic program that enables the country to make the necessary adjustments,” he explained.
Paul Simons, executive secretary of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) – the OAS division in charge of implementing BIDAL in Brazil – noted that the country has always been an important partner and collaborator in many areas of the organization. “This effort is the beginning of a journey that won't be easy, but this project is critical in addressing the needs of member states,” he explained.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: OAS to provide advice on seized asset management
